Managing WhatsApp Credit Lines
About WhatsApp Credit Lines
A WhatsApp credit line is the billing method that connects a WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) to a funding source for its usage fees on the WhatsApp Business Platform. When you onboard a client to use WhatsApp through the CRM, their WABA must be linked to a credit line to cover the costs of sending messages via the API.
Billing Structures
There are two primary ways a business can pay for its WhatsApp usage:
- Direct Billing: The business manages its own payment method directly within its Meta Business Suite account and pays Meta for usage. No credit line from a solution provider is used.
- Credit Line Billing: A solution provider (like your CRM platform) shares its credit line with the client's WABA. The client pays the provider, who then receives a combined invoice from Meta for all usage. In this model, the solution provider is the "Bill To Party" and is responsible for the charges.
Billing Liability: If you share your credit line with a client, you are financially responsible for all WhatsApp usage incurred by that client's WABA. It is critical to have a formal billing agreement with your client before sharing your credit line.
The Permanent Attachment Rule
Meta's platform has a critical rule regarding credit lines that cannot be bypassed.
- A credit line cannot be changed or removed after it has been attached to a WABA. This is a permanent attachment enforced by Meta, not a limitation of the CRM.
- Solution Partners do not have the ability to detach a credit line from a WABA once it is linked.
- If a client needs to use a different credit line, the only solution is to create a new WhatsApp Business Account. The new credit line can be attached during the setup process for the new WABA.
This means if a client asks to change their attached credit line, you must inform them that it is not possible due to Meta's rules, and the correct procedure is to create a new WABA.
Sharing a Credit Line with a Client
To allow a client to bill their WhatsApp usage to your credit line, you must share it with their WABA. This action grants their account permission to charge message fees to your payment source. Ensure you have a clear agreement on billing and payment terms with the client beforehand, as you will be liable for their costs.
Revoking a Credit Line
Revoking a credit line ends the sharing arrangement with a client. This action stops the client's WABA from being able to charge future messaging costs to your credit line. However, it is important to understand that revoking is not the same as removing the credit line from the WABA itself, which is impossible.
Effect of Revocation: When you revoke a credit line, the client will immediately lose the ability to send messages through their WABA because it no longer has a valid payment method. To resume service, the client must either set up direct billing with Meta or arrange for a new credit line to be attached to their WABA (which, as stated, requires creating a new WABA).
Unshared WhatsApp Business Accounts
If a client's WABA is not linked to any credit line (yours or their own), it will not be able to send messages. A valid payment method must always be in place for the WhatsApp API to function for outbound messaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a credit line be removed from a WABA after attachment?
No. Once a credit line is attached to a WABA, it cannot be removed or changed. This is a permanent rule set by Meta.
What is the difference between revoking and removing a credit line?
Revoking a credit line ends the sharing permission you've granted to a client, stopping future billing. Removing (or detaching) a credit line from the WABA's account settings is an action that Meta's platform does not allow after the initial attachment.
If I revoke a credit line, does messaging stop for all of the client's WABAs?
Yes. When you revoke your credit line from a client's business, the revocation applies to all WABAs associated with that business that were using your credit line. You cannot revoke it for just one WABA if multiple are linked.
Who is responsible for the charges when a credit line is shared?
The Solution Partner who owns the credit line is the "Bill To Party" and is fully liable for all WhatsApp usage costs generated by the client's WABA. Meta will invoice the partner, who must then collect payment from the client.